Rashida Jones steps down as MSNBC president just before Trump's inauguration.

Rashida Jones announces her resignation as MSNBC president ahead of Trump's inauguration.

By  BELINDA FOSTER

Updated 12:35 PM EST, January 14, 2025

MSNBC President Rashida Jones has announced her resignation after four years at the helm of the liberal news network. Her departure coincides with the onset of a second Trump administration and follows changes in corporate ownership.

In a memo to staff on Tuesday, Jones stated her decision to leave was to "pursue new opportunities." Rebecca Kutler, a former CNN executive who joined MSNBC in 2022, will serve as her interim replacement.

During Jones' leadership, MSNBC has generally overtaken CNN as the second-highest-rated cable news network, following Fox News Channel. However, its ratings have significantly declined since Donald Trump's election.

MSNBC's programming has remained relatively stable since Jones, the first Black executive to lead a cable news network, transitioned from NBC News to her role in 2021. Her most notable addition has been former Biden administration press secretary Jen Psaki.

In November, Comcast announced the separation of MSNBC and CNBC from NBC News into a standalone entity led by executive Mark Lazarus, resulting in Jones reporting to new corporate leadership.

In a Tuesday morning meeting, Jones expressed her enthusiasm for the network's achievements and her future endeavors. She provided limited insight into the timing, though corporate and political shifts often precipitate changes in the news industry.

"When Rashida shared this with me at the end of last week, I was surprised," Lazarus remarked during the meeting, as reported by MSNBC. "I was a little saddened for the company but very happy for her to be able to come to grips with a hard decision — a very personal decision."

No name change for MSNBC

Lazarus also assured employees on Tuesday that MSNBC would retain its name. There had been speculation about a potential name change under the new corporate structure; the name originated from a partnership with Microsoft when the network launched in 1996. As of now, there are few visible changes for viewers due to the separation from NBC News.

Jones maintained a low public profile as MSNBC's leader. She implemented significant changes to the network's weekend lineup and extended the duration of two popular weekday programs: "Morning Joe" and Nicolle Wallace's afternoon show.

She also navigated internal challenges following NBC News' decision last year to hire former Republican National Committee head Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, a decision that was reversed after widespread dissent among MSNBC personalities.

MSNBC's viewership has decreased by 57% since Trump's election. The network notes that cable networks closely associated with a losing candidate typically see a decline in their post-election audience, though there are indications of recovery. Whether this resurgence will match MSNBC's 2017 performance remains uncertain, particularly with the increasing trend of viewers cutting cable services.

On Monday, MSNBC announced that its most popular host, Rachel Maddow, will return to hosting her show five nights a week for the initial months of the new administration. Since 2022, she has typically hosted her show one night a week.